23 November 2024
Aston Villa 2 Crystal Palace 2
Nearly a month ago, everything was smelling of roses at Villa Park. They were top of the Champions League and comfortably sitting in the top four in the Premier League. After one of their victories, Unai Emery was asked if his side could challenge for the title and from that point, everything has gone pear-shaped for his side ever since.
Aston Villa welcomed Crystal Palace to Villa Park, having lost their last four games in all competitions. They needed to get back to winning ways if they were to have any hope of making their Champions League exploits anything but a one-season wonder. However, The Eagles had not read the script and started in positive fashion.
With just three minutes on the clock, Mateta released Sarr, who used his strength and guile to keep the defender at bay and drill the ball past Martinez to give Crystal Palace the lead. This is not the start the home fans had expected to see from their team. Immediately they had given themselves an uphill struggle if they were going to get the win they craved.
As an attack for the visitors broke down, a superb long-range pass set Watkins free. He cut inside the defender onto his right foot and got a stinging shot away to the near post. Henderson reacted well and just managed to get a hand to it to prevent the hosts from drawing level. Aston Villa were showing just how dangerous they can be when given a slight sniff of goal.
McGinn was pivotal to everything the hosts were doing. His passing and vision is integral to their transition from defence to attack. The Scot slotted a ball through into the path of Watkins, who took it around Henderson, before rolling it into the back of the net. Villa Park erupted as their target man broke his recent goal drought, much to the fans’ delight.
After having a prolific season last campaign, this was his first goal in six games. Villa grew in confidence and could have taken the lead when the ball was worked to Bailey out wide. He let fly with a rasping shot that thundered against the crossbar and came back out into play. So close to sending the hosts into the lead before the interval.
There was still time for Aston Villa to pile more pressure on the visitors. As a cross came into the box, Bailey went to ground and the ball was cleared. The referee waved away claims for a penalty but a subsequent VAR review sent the referee to the monitor. That only ever means one thing and after watching replays from various angles, he pointed to the spot.
Tielemans stepped up to take it but his effort was well-saved by a strong arm from Henderson. As the resulting corner was cleared, Sarr made a lung-bursting run down the right wing. As the ball was played into him, Aston Villa were struggling to get back. His cross into the box was missed by everyone until it reached Devenny at the back post.
The Crystal Palace youngster swept the ball into the corner of the goal for the ultimate counter-attack. It was his first senior goal for The Eagles and proved to be quite the sucker-punch for the hosts. The transition from defence to attack was lightning-quick and Aston Villa had absolutely no answer to it. Glasner’s side headed in at the interval leading once again.
After the break all the pressure was on the hosts. Palace were getting some real joy with the pace of their counter-attacks. Sarr cut inside Maatsen once again but on this occasion was brought down just outside the box. The visitors wanted the Villa player to see red for the challenge but it was adjudged that there was a covering defender, very debatable.
As Emery’s side continued in search of an equaliser, they almost caught Palace out at their own game. As they countered from a corner for the visitors, the ball was played into Watkins with acres of space in front of him. He dwelled on the chance a little and Lacroix was able to get a challenge in to prevent him a goalscoring opportunity.
The Aston Villa striker had his arms up in the air demanding a penalty for the challenge. The referee waved away protests and the VAR review saw nothing to change that decision. Much like the referral system in cricket this was one of those ‘umpire’s call’ situations. Had it been given, they would have also stuck with the onfield decision.
With time running out, the hosts continued to apply the pressure. From an Aston Villa corner, Barkley rose to glance a header into the far corner and Villa Park erupted. With just over ten minutes remaining, they had got their goal. More importantly, there was still enough time remaining to try and win this game. Emery's side needed to get back to winning ways.
However, it was the visitors who had the best chance to win this game. Mitchell got down the left-wing and picked out Schlupp with his cross. He drilled it towards goal, only to see his effort come crashing back off the frame of the goal. It was only when you saw the replay that it became apparent it was in fact a fine save from Martinez to keep it out.
The man with number 23 shaved into his head (come on mate, you’re 32-years-old) had saved his side with a great reaction save. Had it gone in, you felt there was not enough time for Aston Villa to find another goal. As a result, the points were shared and the hosts have now failed to win in their last six games. Worrying times for Unai Emery.
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